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Diners' Choice: Best Overall restaurants in Coastal North Carolina

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OpenTable
Updated February 05, 2025

Looking for the best overall restaurants in Coastal North Carolina? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favourite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of Genki Sushi Bar and Japanese Restaurant restaurant
4.9
4.9 (631)
$31 to $50
Sushi
Wilmington
About the restaurant
We look forward to welcoming you into our warm environment, with food so good you will swear you just stepped off of the train in Tokyo.

If you are reading this description, please take note that:
* Starting October 1st 2024: We will no longer be able to seat you unless your entire party has arrived and ready to sit ON TIME.
We will hold your Table/Seats for ONLY 10 minutes past the reservation time.
*After 10 minutes, you will lose your reservation to someone who is on the waiting list.
*Please take this serious as, it will allow us to provide better customer service to our guests as we increase in volume, and allow the evening to flow better with timing for our reservations through out the evening.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding! Our customers mean the world to us!

*Also, please remember to count small children and babies as a person for seating. Thank you for your participation and understanding in this.
Thank you for your business! See you soon!

Top review
Sydney
Dined 3 days ago
The fish was very fresh. Definitely on the pricier side but over all it was a good experience.
A photo of Prime Bistro & Wine Bar restaurant
4.9
4.9 (406)
$31 to $50
Steakhouse
Beaufort / Morehead City
About the restaurant
An elevated dining experience with wood-fired steaks, seafood, housemade pasta and world-class wines.
Top review
Jeannie
Dined 5 days ago
Highly recommended for a special dining experience, excellent relaxed service, well prepared quality food & nice ambiance.
A photo of Ocean Blvd Bistro and Martini Bar restaurant
4.9
4.9 (2827)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Kitty Hawk
About the restaurant
Ocean Boulevard Bistro and Martini Bar is an upscale dining restaurant on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. We are open nightly for dinner and drinks through all seasons. We pride ourselves in using fresh local and regional ingredients, in season, to create interesting and flavorful meals. We have a comprehensive wine list and have been awarded "Best of the Beach - 2014-2017" for our Martini Bar. We also have an oceanside patio, across the street from the beach, for drinks and waiting. If your reservation can not be completed online, please call us at 252-261-2546 to inquire about special seating arrangements.
Top review
Lea
Dined 3 days ago
We always come here when we are visiting the Outer Banks. The food is outstanding and the service was excellent.
A photo of Steamers restaurant
4.9
4.9 (112)
$31 to $50
Seafood
Kitty Hawk
About the restaurant
New and exiting things are coming soon!! Stay Tuned


Top review
Margie
Dined on Jan 2, 2025
We never pass up a chance to go to Steamers when we are in OBX. Linda and team go above and beyond to ensure an outstanding dining experience. The menu options are varied, and the food is always fresh, delicious, and well presented. We’ve been customers of theirs for 30 years now, and they never disappoint!
A photo of The Green House Restaurant - Wilmington restaurant
4.9
4.9 (391)
$31 to $50
Vegetarian / Vegan
Wrightsville Beach
About the restaurant
The Green House offers inventive, plant-based menu with an emphasis on sustainability, seasonality, and all of the amazing local producers this area has to offer
Top review
SuzanneVIP
Dined on Jan 26, 2025
One of the elegant and charming place to have a special healthy meal. We loved the food and the ambience!!!
A photo of The Melting Pot - Wilmington(NC) restaurant
4.9
4.9 (730)
$31 to $50
Fondue
Wilmington
About the restaurant
Welcome and thank you for choosing The Melting Pot of Wilmington. We offer a very unique and interactive dining experience, with a heavy focus on personal service. Our Wait staff has been hand picked and extensively trained to have the ability to provide you, our guest, with nothing less than a "Perfect Night Out." Every visit will be hand tailored to fit your wants and needs during your fondue experience. We are a four-course full service restaurant. We offer a stunning variety of creamy, perfectly balanced cheeses that our servers hand craft table side for your dining pleasure. We have a selection of cold, crisp and fresh salads, paired with house made dressings. Our entrées are as beautiful as they are delicious. We offer a wide range of premium meats and seafoods with a variety of sophisticated marinades and sauces for dipping.
Top review
Anne-Marie
Dined 3 days ago
Our evening was great Our server was Thea, she is so very good, very attentive, very knowledgeable and so very nice. Our whole night was perfect, we thoroughly enjoy the Melting Pot in Wilmington!! Highly recommend.
A photo of Brent's Bistro restaurant
4.9
4.9 (654)
$31 to $50
Contemporary American
Wrightsville Beach
About the restaurant
Upscale yet casual restaurant located in Wilmington, NC. Located near Wrightsville Beach. Menu changes weekly to highlight the freshest seafood and land dishes. Enjoy flavorful dinners and extensive wine selection in our welcoming atmosphere. When weather permits, book a seat outdoors on our covered patio. For reservations, please utilize Opentable or call us directly. However, reservations for Fridays and Saturdays can ONLY be booked by calling us directly. 910-839-3131.
Top review
Fred
Dined on Jan 19, 2025
Perfect! Tired of the food factory atmosphere and service? Go to Brent"s.
A photo of Circa 81 Tapas & Cocktaileria restaurant
4.9
4.9 (1207)
$30 and under
Tapas / Small Plates
Beaufort / Morehead City
About the restaurant
Clarke Merrell's (Circa 81 Executive Chef/Proprietor) goal is for Circa 81 to provide creative, quality, & delicious food in a beautiful setting. Offering small plates that are perfect for passing around the table in true tapas style, our dishes are meant to inspire and engage our diners. So, start a conversation, relax, and enjoy a fresh take on cuisine. Clarke developed Circa 81 in hopes that guests will try something new and different and truly have a dining experience. Circa 81 offers great wine and cocktails too, with more than 30 specialty drinks on our cocktaileria menu. Our menu also includes medium and large plate selections - delicious sandwiches, homemade soups, local seafood and fresh-made desserts.

Circa 81 also offers take-out and catering - just contact us for more details.

Top review
Dr. JohnVIP
Dined on Jan 26, 2025
We always enjoy the food, drink and service at Circa - With Jamie taking care of us at the bar - our dinner is always enjoyable. We always come back!!
A photo of Southern, a gathering place restaurant
4.8
4.8 (509)
$50 and over
Farm-to-table
Southport
About the restaurant
Farm to fork creative southern cuisine. Handcrafted cocktails and fabulous wine list. We offer seating by reservation for all seats in the restaurant including seats at our bar, indoor dining room, and our outdoor porch which is a wonderful place to sit during all seasons (since porch sitting is a true Southport thing to do).
Top review
Barbara
Dined 2 days ago
Wonderful as usual. An experience with the farm-to-table. Flavors meld well.
A photo of The Oyster Rock Waterfront Seafood restaurant
4.9
4.9 (3535)
$30 and under
Seafood
Calabash
About the restaurant
Welcome to The Oyster Rock, a family-owned and operated waterfront Calabash seafood restaurant specializing in excellent seafood and raw bar items, mixed with a flavorful variety of mouth-watering beef, chicken and pork dishes, along with sandwiches and burgers all prepared in house every day using only the freshest and finest ingredients from local and regional suppliers and the beautiful Atlantic Ocean right outside our doors.

Overlooking the scenic Calabash River and its pristine estuaries and relaxing atmosphere, The Oyster Rock provides the most amazing view around, from our indoor and outdoor seating areas and bars featuring more than 24 domestic and imported beers on tap, 30 wines by the glass and a delicious collection of specialty cocktails.

If you would like to order carryout, orders may be placed by calling 910-579-6875.

Top review
alicia
Dined 4 days ago
Excellent service and fabulous food. We always go for the oysters and Seafood.
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